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Callahan County holds public hearing on 2025-26 budget; staff cites $631,000 in new property value
Summary
Callahan County Commissioners Court opened a public hearing Aug. 25 on the proposed 2025-26 budget; county staff outlined line-item adjustments including a $5,000 allocation for Cornerstone, grant-related changes tied to Senate Bill 22 and a $631,000 increase from new property added to the tax roll. No final budget vote was taken.
Callahan County Commissioners Court opened a public hearing on the proposed 2025-26 budget at 8:30 a.m. Aug. 25 and heard staff explain a handful of line-item changes, but did not adopt the budget.
Sandra, a county staff member, told commissioners the packet incorporates recent adjustments: a new $5,000 line item for Cornerstone; an increased use of fund balance (not all expected to be used); and technical fixes in the grant fund tied to Senate Bill 22 so expenses match anticipated grant revenue. “$631,000 of it comes from new property added to the tax roll,” Sandra said when describing the budget cover sheet the county will publish.
The explanation mattered because the cover sheet the county will publish shows how new property values affect revenue and compares current and proposed tax rates. Sandra said she adjusted the sheriff’s office equipment line and the county attorney’s extra position in the grant fund so revenue and expense align with the grant. She also noted a part-time position in Justice of the Peace Precinct 1 was budgeted for about 10 hours per week and that Precinct 4’s part-time assistant line was reviewed and remains in the budget.
According to Sandra, the general fund is presented in a balanced form across precincts; the restricted fund is budgeted with a surplus because the county typically carries those funds forward; and construction fund estimates were aligned so the difference will be applied to the annex project, which the county expects to fund with recent bond proceeds. She said elected-official salary changes discussed at prior meetings are included in the draft and will come forward at a later agenda item for formal approval.
Commissioners asked procedural questions about distribution of the budget cover sheet; Sandra said she would send it to staff after the commissioners approve the budget. The hearing did not include a vote to adopt the budget. After the staff presentation and brief discussion, Commissioner Windham moved to adjourn; Commissioner Gowon seconded. The motion passed by voice vote and the court adjourned at 8:36 a.m.
The court will take formal action on the budget at a future meeting; staff and commissioners referenced a prior public budget workshop held about a week earlier where most larger items were discussed.
